All Blacks coach addresses Hoskins Sotutu's potential Test allegiance switch

Sotutu was set to be called into the All Blacks squad for the November internationals after injuries to Ethan Blackadder (calf), Luke Jacobson (fractured thumb) and Dalton Papali'i (upper hamstring).

However, a knee injury means that he has been withdrawn from consideration.

Having last played for the All Blacks in November 2022, the Blues star will become eligible to switch international allegiances to England or Fiji next year as he qualifies for the former through his mother and the latter through his father.

The 26-year-old has been pressed to do precisely that with his Super Rugby Pacific teammate Akira Ioane suggesting so after he was snubbed by the All Blacks coaching team in September.

The back-rower had arguably his finest domestic campaign in 2024 scoring a record number of tries for a forward in Super Rugby (12) and also weighed in with nine assists. However, this was not enough to earn a call-up for the July internationals against England and Japan as well as the Rugby Championship.

All Blacks boss Robertson was asked whether he has addressed the potential of Sotutu switching allegiances with the player.

"No, I haven't had a conversation with him in that regard," he said.

"I just know he is contracted to New Zealand until 2026 and if he was fit, he would have come away with us."

Sotutu was named in Clayton McMillan's All Blacks XV squad for the clashes against Munster and Georgia next month but because of his injury, he will miss the tour and the chance to be included in Robertson's team.

This after the aforementioned injuries in the All Blacks squad which would have resulted in his recall and has forced Robertson to stop and take stock before deciding who to call up.

He hinted that another back-rower will be included in the squad and the player could come from McMillan's playing stock.

"The last week's been interesting, just looking at the dynamics. That's why we have just paused and pumped the breaks a little bit on bringing somebody else in," Robertson explained.

"After the conversations over the last few days with Hoskins just to have a look and obviously, we've got a couple of guys coming up to provide training cover from the All Blacks XV.

"That tour is great having them over there and we can call someone straight in but they need foot as well and give us training bodies before the crew go head up to England early."

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